MLB Rumors

The Brewers have placed outfielder Norichika Aoki on the paternity list, the club announced Wednesday. Aoki has been essentially on call awaiting the birth of his second child since Sunday. He will miss at least three days.

The Astros announced Wednesday they signed starting pitcher prospect Mark Appel, who was the No. 1 overall pick in the 2013 MLB draft. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.

"Drafting and signing Mark Appel was a top priority for our organization this year," Astros general manager Jeff Luhnow said in a press release. "We are an organization focused on winning championships in the future and we expect Mark to be a big part of that effort."

Appel was 10-4 with a 2.12 ERA and four complete games in his senior season at Stanford. He struck out 130 batters in 106 1/3 innings and posted a .203 opponents' batting average. He finished his college career as Stanford's all-time strikeout leader (372). 

"Mark has been one of the premier talents in college baseball for the past few years, and he cemented that status this spring with his best season yet,"  Astros director of amateur scouting Mike Elias said. "He possesses a bulldog mentality, an ideal pitcher’s frame, an elite track record, and he commands three-plus pitches -- everything we look for in a pitcher.  We feel the potential is there for him to become a mainstay at the very forefront of our rotation for a long time."

The Phillies have promoted third base prospect Maikel Franco to Double-A Reading, Baseball America reports.

Franco, 20, dominated at high Class A Clearwater, where he hit .299/.349/.576 with 16 home runs in just 65 games. With the Phillies lacking an obvious long-term third baseman -- Michael Young is 36 years old and on an expiring contract -- Franco's stock will be worth watching closely as the Phillies look to fill the hot corner.

Orioles manager Buck Showalter said Wednesday pitcher Jake Arrieta will work as a starter at Triple-A Norfolk. Arrieta was optioned to Norfolk after losing in a spot start Monday against the Tigers.

"We constantly look at things with guys with really good arms like Jake," Showalter said, per The Baltimore Sun. "If he gets the ball down, he’s effective. How do you do it? Is it delivery? Is it a mentality? We’ve talked about all those things and we will continue. Let him get there. I know he’s going to start his next outing and at some point we will probably step back and see where we are with it. I want to get him back on good ground."

The Padres will place Everth Cabrera on the disabled list before Wednesday's game, MLB.com reports. Cabrera strained his hamstring in a stolen base attempt Sunday. It's unclear how long the speedy shortstop will be shut down, but a hamstring injury of any severity is concerning over the short and long term for any player so reliant on his speed.

The Padres will recall outfielder Jaff Decker from Triple-A Tucson on Wednesday, MLB.com reports. Decker owns a .260/.379/.398 line with five home runs in 196 at-bats at Tucson. Expect the lefty to get at-bats off the bench and perhaps some starts against right-handed pitching.

While Tigers manager Jim Leyland continues to be impressed with the play of outfielder Matt Tuiasosopo, who is batting .333 and slugging .551 through 36 games, an increase in playing time isn't in Tuiasosopo's future.

"I’m not ready to do that just yet," Leyland said, per the Detroit Free Press. "If someone doesn’t get going, then you either play (Tuiasosopo) a little bit more or do something else, and I’m not talking about anyone in particular. That’s a situation with any player."

Yankees outfielder Fernando Martinez, who was acquired in a Tuesday trade from the Astros, will report to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, according to The New York Times. Martinez has been toiling in the minors since being designated for assignment in early May.

Mariners second baseman Nick Franklin extended his hitting streak to seven games Tuesday against the Angels with a 1-for-4 performance. Franklin is batting .370 (10 for 27) with one home run, one stolen base, three doubles, three RBI, three walks and three runs in his last seven games.

Franklin's batting average has gone from .250 to .296 during his recent seven-game surge.

Red Sox outfielder Daniel Nava connected for his 10th home run in the nightcap of Tuesday's doubleheader against the Rays. It was his third home run in June.

Nava is batting .297 (19 for 64) with three doubles, eight walks, 12 RBI and 13 runs in 16 June games.